News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

The Northern Trust is putting final arrangements in place ahead of the opening of the new emergency department (E.D.) at the end of June.

The new building will officially open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, and will offer state of the art emergency facilities as well as a 24 bedded unit and a new medical records department.

It has been built to facilitate up to 90,000 attendances per year, and at 8,000 square feet, is over twice the size of the current department.

[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

A huge swell of support for a new initiative aimed at boosting tourism and the general economy of Crossmaglen and the Slieve Gullion area was witnessed at the launch of the “Colourful Past Confident Future” strategy in Crossmaglen Community Centre on Friday, June 7.

Led by Newry and Mourne District Council and incorporating local businesses and voluntary sector groups, the scheme is a promotional campaign highlighting the positive programs, activity and efforts being made by local communities and agencies to stimulate development and economic growth of the area.

[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

Carlow senior boss John Meyler says he wasn’t the least bit surprised by the county U-21 hurlers’ sensational win over Dublin on Tuesday night.

Dublin, having reached each of the last two All-Ireland minor finals, were expected to make light work of the Barrowsiders at Parnell Park though, like their football counterparts against Longford earlier this year, slipped to a shock 1-13 to 1-11 loss.

Meyler doesn’t have a direct involvement with the under-21 set up, which is managed by Pat English, though 12 of the players that featured on Tuesday are part of his senior squad.

[Source: Irish Mirror]

CAVAN

The Gathering tourism initiative is having a positive impact on visitors to the county, particularly from America, anecdotal evidence from those in the hospitality industry would suggest. The acting C.E.O. of B&B Ireland, Mary Doogan, told The Anglo-Celt that B&B Ireland online booking figures show a 66 percent increase for Cavan compared to this time last year.

“This is a great achievement, but we have to point out that this figure includes advance bookings for the entire year so it does not mean that the county has seen a huge rise in B&B visitor numbers up to now for 2013. The general trend in the B&B sector this year has seen an increase in visitors from the US and continental Europe, but in Cavan the U.K. remains a strong market because it continues to attract the anglers in particular.”

[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

Better consultation and planning is needed for festivals to avoid clashes, as has happened with this year’s Feakle Festival and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

That’s the message from Councilor Pat Hayes, who says this year’s Fleadh Cheoil, which takes place in Derry from August 12 to 18, will have a knock-on effect for other traditional music festivals in Clare.
He believes a shift in the fleadh’s dates over time “has caused difficulties for other festivals, such as the Feakle Festival.”

[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK

Cork comedian Tara Flynn used her talents to take a unique stand against racism recently after her husband was subjected to verbal abuse in her hometown, Kinsale.

Tara and her husband Carl Austin, were visiting Kinsale over Easter when he became the subject of ridicule while out walking his dog.

In response to the racial attack, Tara made a satirical comedy sketch focusing on the issue of Irish racism. The video stars many Kinsale residents, as well as Tara's husband Carl.

The incident occurred when Carl, from Los Angeles, was out walking his dog in Kinsale over the Easter weekend late at night. Passing a pub a group of men began shouting at him and calling him names.

[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY

Food critics from across the globe have been finding out exactly what the people of the city ate during the Siege of Derry as part of the Feast or Famine Food Tours.

Local chef Emmett McCourt treated a group of American visitors, including a leading food critic from New York, to a real taste of Derry as part of the City of Culture celebrations.

The group of 30 visitors was taken on a tour of the city’s Food Heritage Trail guided by Emmett.

The food tour stems from the research Emmett undertook into the North West’s culinary heritage for his book “Feast or Famine,” which is due to be published later in the year.

[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

A 70-year-old man living in west Donegal appeared in Dungloe District Court last Tuesday charged with seven alleged sex offences.

One charge relates to the alleged indecent assault of a male on a date in June 1984, while the other charges are of gross indecency against males on dates between February 2001 and June 2006.